Combined electrical connector and clip



July 5, 1966 A. R. NORDEN CCMBINED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CLIP Filed Dec. 25, 1963 BLADE CONTACT INSBLOCIC INVENTOR. flazxmvoifl 1?. Z EA/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 7 3,259,877 COMBINED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CLIP Alexander R. Norden, New York, N.Y., assignor to Murray Manufacturing Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 332,403 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-258) This invention relates to a combined lay-in connector and clip.

The expression lay-in connector is well known in the V electrical industry; it denotes a connector having a cradle portion for accommodating a conductor. This type of connector is commonly used as a terminal connector in fuse boxes, meter mounting devices, and other similar electrical equipment.

In US. Patent No. 2,872,656, assigned to Murray Manufacturing Corporation, several forms of lay-in connectors are illustrated. As shown in the aforesaid patent and as is common in the industry, lay-in connectors when used in a meter mount, are connected to clips, which engage the meter contact blades, by a screw or bolt connection. The connectors heretofore used in meter mounts were specially designed so as to include a portion which extended under the base of the clip so that the connector and clip could be mounted in direct contact with each other. It is recalled that the electrical circuit in a meter mount is from the power line, to the connector, through the clip and meter to the opposite clip, connector and then to the load.

In recent years, the electrical demands have increased so that it is not uncommon for meter mount parts to carry 100 amperes and more. As the current increases, the heat generated by the several current carrying parts also increases, and care must be exercised to limit or reduce the amount of heat production by the current carrying parts.

One of the causes of heat is the resistance produced by mechanically contacting current carrying parts. For example, substantial resistance is produced by the mechanical connection between the chip and the connector.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a combined connector and clip consisting of relatively few parts which may be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled, and in which the primary current carrying parts are integral.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the combined connector and clip comprise a body portion, for accommodating the conductor, which has base and side parts; the conductor being located on the base. A bridge member is coupled at one end to the base and at the opposite end to an intermediate portion of the side part; the bridge is shaped to define with the body portion an enclosed space for the conductor. The invention is characterized by a clip contact being formed integral with the bridge member and located adjacent the side member to form a clip therewith. Means such as a bolt and pressure plate are attached to the bridge member for pressing the conductor against the base.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the combined connector and clip;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body portion of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bridge member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bolt and pressure plate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of the combined connector and clip; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the connector shown in FIG. 5.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, the novel combined connector and clip comprises a body portion having a base 1 anda side 2. The body portion is made of conductive material and is preferably made of copper. The base and side parts are slotted for attachment with a bridge member 3.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the base is formed with a slot extending from the free end thereof and extending a short distance towards the side 2. The metal of the slot is struck up to form a barrier 4 which confines the space for the conductor. The conductor is laid into the connector between the bridge and the base and between barrier 4 and side 2. The side 2 of the body at an intermediate portion thereof is formed with opposing slots 5, 6 as shown in the drawing. The slots are formed at right angles to the edges of the side and extend towards each other a short distance. a

The bridge member 3 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and is shaped to engage the slots of the side and base and enclose the the space occupied by the conductor. In the first embodiment, the bridge member is angle-shaped comprising a depending portion 7 formed with slots 8 and 9, so that the ends of the base portion 1 fit through the slots 8, 9 as shown in FIG. 1. The upper part of the bridge portion 3 is centrally slotted leaving extensions 10, 11 to fit into the slots 5, 6 of the side 2. The bridge is assembled to the body portion by locating the extensions of the base 1 into the slots 8 and 9, and then moving the extensions 10 and 11 into the side slots 5 and 6.

The bridge member 3 is formed with a clip contact 12 which is located adjacent the upper part of the side member 2 when the bridge and body portion are assembled as shown in FIG. 1. The clip contact 12 forms with the side 2 a clip for engagement with a meter blade contact as suggested in FIG. 1.

The conductor is secured to the connector by means of a bolt and pressure plate as shown in FIG. 4. The bolt 13 is threaded into a tapped hole 14 in the bridge member and is swivel-connected to the pressure plate 15. The bearing surface of the pressure plate 15 generally conforms to the contour of the conductor. In accordance with the usual practice, the conductor is pressed against the base 1 by means of the bolt and pressure plate assembly.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The essential differences between the two embodiments is that in FIG. 5 the body portion is in the form of a I, so that the curved portion of the I cradles the conductor, maximizing the contact surface between the conductor and the connector. The pressure plate in the second embodiment is formed with a depending side 18 to confine the conductor and thereby increase the pressure between the conductor and base. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the combined connector and clip is capable of accommodating the conductor at an angle to the axis of the enclosed space. Where it is desired that this conductor angle be rigidly maintained, a projecting shoulder 19 may be formed within the cradle adjacent one or both edges (only the forward shoulder is shown). Alternatively, the conductor may be immobilized with respect to angular rotation by a guiding portion of the insulator block bearing the connector and clip assembly. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, this result may also be accomplished by providing the pressure plate 15 with a depending finger 20 which cooperates with any of the base apertures 21 to lock the pressure plate in position.

Two embodiments have been illustrated and described by way of example. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is characterized by the provision of a clip which is integral with the connector, so that the shape of the connector body and bridge members may be varied to accommodate a specificvdesign.

While the foregoing description sets forth the principles of the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of the inventon as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined lay-in connector and clip, comprising a body portion for accommodating a conductor having base and side parts, the conductor being located on said base, a bridge member coupled at one end to said base and at the opposite end to an intermediate portion of said side part and shaped to define with said body portion an enclosed space for said conductor, a clip contact integral with said bridge member and located adjacent said side member to form a clip therewith for engagement with a blade type contact member, and means attached to said bridge member for pressing the conductor against said base.

the base being provided with a slot extending a short distance toward said side, the material of said slot being formed upright to form a barrier and confine the movement of the conductor before engagement by said pressing means, and the associated end of said bridge member being shaped to fit into said slot and to restrict relative movement between said bridge member and body portion.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said body portion is in the shape of a I, and said conductor is cradled in the curved base portion of said I.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said clip contactintegral with said bridge is resilient relative to said body portion.

6. The connector according to claim 1 in which said base comprises a shoulder formed thereon, projecting into said defined space for limiting the angular rotation References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,709,793 5 1955 Iohansson 3 39-25 6 3,027,440 3/1962 Daly 339272 X r 3,131,984 5/1964 Kobryner 33931 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMBINED LAY-IN CONNECTOR AND CLIP, COMPRISING A BODY PORTION FOR ACCOMMODATING A CONDUCTOR HAVING BASE AND SIDE PARTS, THE CONDUCTOR BEING LOCATED ON SAID BASE, A BRIDGE MEMBER COUPLED AT ONE END TO SAID BASE AND AT THE OPPOSITE END AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID SIDE PART AND SHAPED TO DEFINE WITH SAID BODY PORTION AND ENCLOSED SPACED FOR SAID CONDUCTOR, A CLIP CONTACT INTEGRAL WITH SAID BRIDGE MEMBER AND LOCATED ADJACENT SAID SIDE MEMBER TO FORM A CLIP THEREWITH FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A BLADE TYPE CONTACT MEMBER, AND MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BRIDGE MEMBER FOR PRESSING THE CONDUCTOR AGAINST SAID BASE. 